Thursday, November 19, 2009

SORRY for being sooooooo negligent in posting !!! Can't believe it has been more than a month since I last visited with you !!! Life does interupt our plans sometimes. Just pick yourself up dust yourself off and keep on keeping on.Just thought I had better send each of you a Thanksgiving wish for much health and happiness.We are so blessed to live in this great country where our only limitations for happiness are the ones we put on ourselves.In this season where things really get busy, and sometimes overwhelming, we need to slow down and give thanks for all God has blessed us with.Here is a quote that sums up the consequences of rushing through life ---- by Patsy Clairmont"Doing too much is as dangerous as doing nothing at all. Both modes prevent us from savoring our moments. One causes me to rush past the best of life without recognizing or basking in it, and the other finds me sitting quietly as life rushes past me."So --- Slow down, enjoy the season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, and remember to enjoy the little moments that might just be the best memories you hold on to.Have a Blessed Thankgiving.Best wishes for much happiness and many special memories, Carol

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Sorry I haven't had time to visit with you this week. I have been busy still trying to get my Ebay store up and fully stocked.

I spent most of today reposting photos that I had already posted for each item, for some reason they were not showing up on the Ebay site. After I had finished I talked with my son and he told me Ebay had a technical problem today and when it was corrected the photos reappeared. It wasn't anything I had to fix at all !!! :-(

Fiddle- De-DEE, tomorrow is another day.

Anyway I'm ready for a quiet night at home.

Check out my Ebay site when you get a chance, I still have lots of items to post.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Perfectly Precious Pink Baby Girl Gifts From My Brick and Mortar Store. All items handmade by me except for the Ballerina Piggy Bank. You may E-mail me for pricing and shipping info if you are interested in purchasing any of the items in my post photo.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

God is indeed in control of things! Prayers are answered!Just a brief explanation --- I have a 33 year old son ( Samuel ) who has a progressive neuomuscular disease classified as on of the Muscular Dystrophys. He was born with this condition passed on to him by me, I also have the same condition. They say bad things happen in 3's, well, last fall his wife of 11 years walked out on the marriage and refused to even consider counseling. Shortly after that his home was broken into and several electronics were stolen. Then shortly after that he was layed off from his job of 9 years due to cut backs. It has been 10 months since his layoff and to his surprise he got a call from his old boss and was asked to come back to work. He was up and out the door first thing this morning.What a blessing !!!Sam is limited as to what he is able to do physically so job hunting in this economy was quite difficult. His unemployment compensation was nearing the end and he was considering applying for his disability through Social Security. That was something that had weighed on his mind because he truly wanted to continue working as long as he is physically able to.We need to pray for all those who are hurting in this economic time, and pray for our countrys leaders. You don't have to go far, just look out your front door to find someone who might be suffering with the burden of a job loss.Blessings to each of you, Carol

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Boy do I ever have my work cut out for me for the next few days !!! I have decided to open an EBay store to list some of the overstock from my brick & mortar store. Sitting at the computer is not my favorite thing to do when I could be sewing, smocking or painting, making items to add to my inventory.

Taking photos and listing on EBay is very time consuming, but once I get it up and going hopefully I can stay on top of it by just adding a few things each week.

Here is a sneak peek at just a few of the infants and childrens clothing items I will be listing. I also will be listing ladies purses and home decor items in the store.

By the way yesterday and today has been dry weather here in Georgia. There was lots of flooding and damage due to all the rain we have had. Please pray for those who lost loved ones in the floods and for those whose homes and property were damaged.

Monday, September 21, 2009

It has been raining for a solid week here in Georgia. I haven't heard any lake level reports, but the draught we have been in for a couple of years must be over by now. Creeks are flooding and so are streets. A couple of schools have shortened there days also.

This past weekend was a wash out for a local festival at a historic park in our area. I hope the vendors that did set up didn't have any damage to there booths.

I remember years ago, when I did outside craft fairs, that when the weather was rainey I would have a lot of damage to my merchandise just from the humidity. I guess that is the risk you take when you do outside festivals, but when the weather is good nothing is more exciting than a Fall Festival.

Can't wait for the colors to change on the trees and to go for a ride in the mountains of North Georgia to witness all the spendor of God's majesty.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Rainy Day in Georgia !!! It has been a hot muggy rainy day today. My little shop is not very busy when the weather is like this, so I thought I would browse through some of my favorite books on my bookshelf.

I pulled two of my favorites. "Linens and Lace" By Tricia Foley and "Living with Lace" By Bo Niles. Both have beautiful photos and are full of ideas and helpful hints on the use, care and cleaning of linens and lace.

I just love to re-purpose vintage linens and lace, especially when they are damaged in some way and have outlived their original use. We all know that with a needle and thread and a little ingenuity we can fashion lovely items for our home or for gifts.

I like to simplify my re purposing. A hanky or napkin can be lined with a bit of bridal tulle and filled with lavender buds then gathered up and tied with a pretty ribbon for a sweet sachet. What could be easier or make a lovelier gift for someone special.

A luncheon cloth can be placed diagonally over a curtain rod for a valance. Three or four napkins can also be lined up across a curtain rod for another variation of a valance.

A large tablecloth can be used as a bed coverlet. a table runner can be folded in half lengthwise and makes a dainty mantle cover. The possibilities are endless............

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Halloween will be here before we know it. Trick -or-Treating is a BIG thing in the town I live in. All of the businesses in the downtown Historic District pass out candy as a constant parade of children, and some adults, pass by for about 3 hours. There are usually about 2,000 to 3,000 Trick-or-Treaters.

It is so amusing to see all the little ones and how creative the parents have been in their choice of costumes. The littlest ones in their ladybug, fairy, pea in the pod, etc. costumes are always the sweetest. Of course they are to little to eat the candy, but I am sure they get some help from their parents.

For such a big crowd their is quite a bit of organization. The local police do a good job supervising the crowd and traffic at cross walks. The merchants usually just stand in front of their businesses to pass out candy, to avoid chaos in the stores.

Buying the candy way ahead of time is necessary to be able to snag the super size bags at the store. LOTS OF CANDY !!! The first year my shop was open I was so naive, I thought I would buy chocolate bars like I pass out at my home. I spent about $100 on chocolate thinking it would be plenty, little did I know there were 2,000 hungry munchkins about to invade downtown Commerce. The Chocolate lasted about 15 minutes. Not a good thing for the only children's boutique in town to run out of candy. I learned my lesson, and now I buy the super size bags of Dumdum suckers, Bubble Gum and Tootsie Rolls.

Getting ready for the occasion I have to start showing my Halloween clothing by early September, after all October is the only month that the children can really wear Candy Corn, Ghost, Black Cat, etc clothing.

Wishing you much BLISS as you prepare for your Fall Celebrations, Carol

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

I stopped by a large chain bookstore on my day off this week just to browse and see what might call my name from the shelves and shelves of books. Tucked in between two large volumes on the Inspirational shelves was a teeny little book that sang out to me "Tea Lovers". Since I am a tea lover and enjoy the rituals of tea time I pulled the book from the shelves. Not to my surprise the author was Emilie Barnes, famous for her writings with tea related themes for life lessons. What a perfect little daily devotional book to enjoy and be inspired by while sipping your afternoon cup of tea. I thought I would share my discovery with each of you. I am sure you will enjoy it.

"The Tea Lover's Devotional" By Emilie Barnes, Harvest House Publishers

Friday, September 4, 2009

I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Time to change the window dressing at my store. My shop is on a side street of the little town I live in, but I have a HUGE window, 8 X 12 feet. Re-dressing the window for Fall is on my agenda for this week.

I change the display in the window about every 2 weeks, but I change the dressing seasonally. By dressing I mean the decorations that accent the retail merchandise that I display in the window. Flowers, leaves, pumpkins, hearts, bunny's, etc. depending on the season.

I can't emphasize enough the importance of keeping window displays fresh and new, especially since I am not on the main drive through town. I need to catch the eye of every passer-bye, and a creative window display is the main opportunity I have. It only take a couple of seconds for someone to drive by my store. If the window is eye appealing it attracts impulse shoppers just to stop in and look. They may not buy at that visit, but they will remember the shop and look for the window the next time they drive down my street.

Oh, and did I mention that it is a perfect time to get my hubby to pull the ladder out and give the window a good cleaning inside and out since everything will be removed from the area before I start decorating. I know he just loves to see me on the other side of the window pointing to spots he might have missed. :)

Wishing you much BLISS as you prepare your home and yard in anticipation of the Fall season.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

My latest offering on EBay. Sweet border print fabric of scarecrows, sunflowers and pumpkins made into a pillowcase dress with a custom matching hair bow. Fall will be here before we know it. Can't wait for that refreshing crisp weather and beautiful changing of colors on the trees.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Hello -Hope you are all having a wonderful day.It was really cool this morning at 6:00 p.m. when we left the house to head for downtown Atlanta, about and hours drive from Commerce, Georgia where I live. It was just 60, but it has been in the 70's every morning this week. It really felt refreshing, almost like Fall.Back to the trip to Atlanta -My dear sweet hubby of 38 years chauffeurs me to the Wholesale Apparel Mart twice a year to buy for my shop. (Bless him I know he is bored to death) I believe he is a keeper.The vendors at the mart are mostly there for two shows for the Fall - Winter season and again for the Spring - Summer season.Would you believe I went to pick out my children's fashion for Easter, Spring and Summer 2010. Of course they will not start shipping until January. Yep, you have to buy 6 to 8 months ahead in the retail clothing business.I picked out some really cute things. Lots of brother - sister twin sets, I just couldn't resist. Of course all the baby thing are just precious, but I can't buy them all, it's really hard to choose.The toddler sizes are always easy to pick, by the time children are that age they know when they are looking good and really can put on a show when they are all dressed up.The older girls are the tough ones to buy for some really like to dress up in twirly little girl fashion and others like the more contemporary styles. I tend to choose more traditional styles for the store. I guess that is just the grandma in me.Now if the economy will just pick up so all those lovely sweet things will sell. The past month has shown a little bit of a turn around at my store. I am optimistic about the Fall and next Spring. Of course, I have always viewed my cup as "Half Full not Half Empty."We had to stop by my daughters and son-in-laws on the trip home. I haven't seen my 2 granddaughters this week, ages 8 and 12. Just had to get a hug and kiss. They are both so busy with school, sports and cheerleader activities.Quite an exhausting trip, but since I have a chauffeur I took a nap on the way home.Hope you come to visit again soon.Best wishes for much BLISS in your life,Carol